Document Object Model (DOM)

What's new?

20090106: The WebApps WG Drives DOM Specifications.
The
W3C Web Applications Working Group has taken over responsibility for the Document
Object Model specifications, including a new revision of DOM Level 3 Events, a new DOM
Core specification, and potentially any errata on older DOM specifications. Discussion
can be directed to either the
public-webapps@w3.org or the
www-dom@w3.org mailing lists.

20080122: The Document
Object Model Activity is closed. The Document
Object Model Working Group was closed in the Spring of
2004, after the completion of the DOM Level 3
Recommendations. Several W3C Working Groups have since
taken the lead in maintaining and continuing to develop
standard APIs for the Web since then; HTML, SVG, CSS, or
WebAPI being among them. W3C will continue to develop APIs
in various Working Groups. Learn more about the
achievements from the DOM Activity page. Got an idea on
how to use this page? Send an email to Philippe.

What is the Document Object Model?

The Document Object Model is a platform-
and language-neutral interface that will allow programs and
scripts to dynamically access and update the content, structure
and style of documents. The document can be further processed
and the results of that processing can be incorporated back into
the presented page. This is an overview of DOM-related materials
here at W3C and around the web.

Why the Document Object Model?

"Dynamic HTML" is a term used by some vendors to describe the combination
of HTML, style sheets and scripts that allows documents to be
animated. The W3C has received several submissions from members companies
on the way in which the object model of HTML documents should be exposed
to scripts. These submissions do not propose any new HTML tags or style
sheet technology. The W3C DOM Activity is working hard to make sure
interoperable and scripting-language neutral solutions are agreed upon.

W3C Activity Statement on the Document Object Model

The W3C DOM Activity statement is the W3C
statement of direction concerning the evolution of the Document Object
Model. Look here for information about the goals of the work and the
current situation.